Atomizer and aerosol generating device using same

ABSTRACT

An atomizer includes an atomizing assembly having an accommodation cavity and an air passage, and an adjustment assembly disposed on the atomizing assembly. The adjustment assembly includes a substrate and an adjustment member. The substrate defines a liquid inlet port in communication with the accommodation cavity and an air inlet port in communication with the air passage. The adjustment member is an adjustment ring rotatably sleeved on the substrate. The adjustment ring defines an adjustment window. When the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the liquid inlet port/the air inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the air inlet port/the liquid inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the liquid inlet port is configured for an injection of aerosol source material into the accommodation cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of patent application Ser. No. 15/717957, filed on Sep. 28, 2017, entitled “ATOMIZER AND AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE USING SAME”, assigned to the same assignee, which is based on and claims priority to China Patent Application No. 201520430063.0 filed on Jun. 19, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to aerosol generating devices, and particularly, to a leak-free atomizer and an aerosol generating device using same.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes in the market are prone to liquid leakage. There are many factors causing leakage, the main factor is that the nicotine liquid leaks from storage via the atomizing assembly. The leaked nicotine liquid may be inhaled by users and is unpleasant. Further, the nicotine liquid may leak out to the batteries or/and to the control panel, which may affect the normal working of the electronic cigarette.

Electronic cigarettes with a leakproof structure are generally complicated and have poor reliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an atomizer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the atomizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the atomizer of FIG. 1 from another angle.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the atomizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a substrate of the atomizer of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of assembly of an adjustment member, a limiting bulge, and a stop plate of the substrate of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the adjustment member of the atomizer of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described to further illustrate an atomizer and an aerosol generating device utilizing same.

In the following description, when an element is described as being “fixed to” another element, the element can be fixed to the another element with or without intermediate elements. When an element is described as “connecting” another element, the element can be connected to the another element with or without intermediate elements.

Without a given contrary definition, all terms given below are of the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The term “and/or” means including any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the atomizer 100 includes a bottom cover 10, an atomizing assembly 30, a power assembly 50, and an adjustment assembly 70.

The atomizing assembly 30 is disposed on the bottom cover 10. The power assembly 50 is installed in the atomizing assembly 30. The adjustment assembly 70 is disposed on the atomizing assembly 30 and communicates with the atomizing assembly 30. The adjustment assembly 70 adjusts the proportions of air and liquid inlet operations and further adjusts the air inlet volume.

Referring further to FIGS. 2-5, the atomizing assembly 30 includes an accommodation tube 31, an atomizing tube 33, a connection tube 35, an accommodation cavity 37, a base 39, an air passage 41, an atomizing cavity 43, a heating component 47, and a liquid conduction component 49. The atomizing tube 33 is received in the connection tube 35. The connection tube 35 is received in the accommodation tube 31. The accommodation tube 31, the connection tube 35, the base 39, and the adjustment assembly 70 cooperatively form the accommodation cavity 37 for accommodating aerosol source material. The air passage 41 is formed between the atomizing tube 33 and the connection tube 35. The liquid conduction component 49 is surrounded by the heating component 47.

One end of the accommodation tube 31 is disposed on the base 39, the opposite end thereof resists the adjustment assembly 70.

The atomizing tube 33 is accommodated in the accommodation tube 31. Specifically, the atomizing tube 33 is concentrically accommodated in the accommodation tube 31. The atomizing tube 33 has one end mounted on the base 39 and opposite end mounted on the adjustment assembly 70. The atomizing tube 33 defines an opening 331 which communicates between the atomizing cavity 43 and the air passage 41.

Specifically, the atomizing tube 33 includes a tube body 333 and a tube cover 335 connected to the tube body 333. The end of the tube body 333 farther away from the tube cover 335 is disposed on the base 39. The end of the tube cover 335 farther away from the tube body 333 is disposed on the adjustment assembly 70. The tube cover 335 is received in the connection tube 35 to form the air passage 41 therebetween. The opening 331 is defined on the tube cover 335. In the embodiment, the tube cover 335 and the tube body 333 are screwed (a threaded connection) together.

Gap between the tube body 333 and the base 39 forms a liquid inlet hole 337 for aerosol source material to enter the atomizing cavity 43.

The power assembly 50 includes an anode 51, a cathode 53, an anode contacting element 55, and an insulating element 57. The heating component 47 is electrically connected to the anode 51 at one end and electrically connected to the cathode 53 at opposite end. The insulating element 57 is sleeved on the anode contacting element 55 to electrically isolate the anode contacting element 55 from the cathode 53. The anode contacting element 55 is electrically connected with the anode 51 and to a power source (not shown), to power the atomizing assembly 30.

The adjustment assembly 70 adjusts the air and liquid inlet operations and further adjusts the air inlet volume to the atomizing assembly 30. The adjustment assembly 70 includes a substrate 71 and an adjustment member 73. The adjustment member 73 is rotatably sleeved on the substrate 71, and the movement of adjustment member 73 in the axial direction of the substrate 71 is restricted by the substrate 71. In the embodiment, the adjustment member 73 is an adjustment ring rotatably sleeved on the substrate 71.

The substrate 71 defines an air inlet port 711 communicating with the air passage 41, thus external air can flow through the air inlet port 711 and the air passage 41 to reach the atomizing cavity 43. The adjustment member 73 defines an adjustment window 731 that can communicate with the air inlet port 711.

The effective exposed size of the air inlet port 711 can be adjusted by rotating the adjustment member 73, as the adjustment window 731 rotates with the adjustment member 73. The rotation of the adjustment window 731 increases or decreases the effective size of the air inlet port 711. The more the air inlet port 711 is exposed, the larger is the volume of air taken in via the air inlet port 711. The less the air inlet port 711 is exposed, the smaller is the volume of air taken in via the air inlet port 711.

It can be appreciated that, the substrate 71 can define two or more air inlet ports 711, and the air inlet ports 711 can be the same or different sizes.

It can be appreciated that, the air volume inlet to the atomizer 100 can be adjusted so that only the air inlet port 711 is wholly or partly exposed by the adjustment window 731. In other embodiments, the numbers, shapes, and sizes of the air inlet ports 711 and the adjustment windows 731 can be varied according to actual needs.

The substrate 71 further defines at least one liquid inlet port 713 opposite to the air inlet port 711. The liquid inlet port 713 communicates with the accommodation cavity 37. The aerosol source material is conducted to the accommodation cavity 37 via the liquid inlet port 713. In the embodiment, the substrate 71 and the connection tube 35 are screwed together. The liquid inlet port 713 and the air inlet port 711 are aligned at an outer circumference of a cross section of the substrate 71.

In use, the liquid inlet port 713 is completely covered by the adjustment member 73 to prevent liquid from reaching the accommodation cavity 37 via the liquid inlet port 713 when at least a part of the air inlet port 711 is exposed by the adjustment window 731. When the adjustment member 73 is rotated and the adjustment window 731 exposes at least a part of the liquid inlet port 713, liquid can flow to the accommodation cavity 37 via the liquid inlet port 713. After such flow is completed, the adjustment member 73 can be rotated so that the adjustment window 731 exposes the air inlet port 711, thus aerosol generating devices employing such an atomizer 100 can provide user with a simulation of drawing on a real cigarette.

In other embodiments, the adjustment member 73 can be an adjustment pad clamped to an edge or an interior of the substrate 71 and rotatable along the edge or interior of the substrate 71. The adjustment pad covers or exposes the liquid inlet port 713 or the air inlet port 711 during the rotation of the adjustment pad.

Furthermore, a protruding stop plate 715 is formed on the substrate 71, and a limiting bulge 733 is formed on the adjustment member 73 corresponding to the stop plate 715. The limiting bulge 733 is able to move only between opposite ends of the stop plate 715.

Referring to FIG. 6, a close fitting member (not shown) can be provided between the substrate 71 and the adjustment member 73, so as to reinforce the leakproofing of the atomizer 100, as well as to prevent the adjustment member 73 from rotation randomly or caused by misoperation. As can be understood, with suitable sizes, close fitting relationship can be created between the substrate 71 and the adjustment member 73 even without the close fitting member.

Furthermore, the atomizer 100 includes a seal to seal the accommodation cavity 37. In the embodiment, the seal includes a top seal 81 and a bottom seal 83. The top seal 81 is disposed between the accommodation tube 31 and the substrate 71, while the bottom seal 83 is disposed between the accommodation tube 31 and the base 39.

Furthermore, the atomizer 100 includes a connection member 90 for connecting a suction apparatus and the atomizer 100, thus facilitating the sucking on vaporized aerosol source material by a user. The connection member 90 has one end connecting with the adjustment member 73 and other end connecting with the atomizing tube 33.

As can be understood, the adjustment member 73 is not limited to only being “rotatably” or “slidably” disposed on the substrate 71, the adjustment member 73 can be “movably” disposed on the substrate 71 according to the actual shape of the atomizer 100. “Slidably” means moving up and down or left and right along the substrate 71.

The present disclosure also provides an aerosol generating device including the atomizer 100.

The atomizer 100 has advantages of firstly, the adjustment assembly 70 being integrated with air inlet, liquid inlet, and adjustment of air inlet volume, which simplifies and shortens the atomizer 100.

Secondly, the adjustment assembly 70 is located at the top portion of the atomizer 100 close to the suction apparatus, which causes air to enter from the top portion of the atomizer 100 rather than from the bottom portion of an atomizer. The absence of an air inlet port at the bottom portion of the atomizer 100 allows the bottom portion of the atomizer 100 to be sealed to prevent the aerosol source material from leaking.

Thirdly, liquid is injected into the atomizer 100 from the top portion of the atomizer 100, thus a detachable connection between the atomizing assembly 30 and the bottom cover is not required and liquid leakage is avoided.

Fourthly, the atomizer 100 is simple in structure and liquid leakage is prevented without employing a complicated leakproofing structure.

Fifthly, the atomizer 100 allows ingress of both air and liquid at the top portion of the atomizer 100.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes can be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustment assembly used for an atomizer of an electronic cigarette, comprising: a substrate having a liquid inlet port and an air inlet port, and an adjustment member; wherein the adjustment member is an adjustment ring rotatably sleeved on the substrate, the adjustment ring defines an adjustment window, when the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the liquid inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the air inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the liquid inlet port is configured for an injection of aerosol source material into the atomizer; when the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the air inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the liquid inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the air inlet port is configured for air entering the atomizer.
 2. The adjustment assembly according to claim 1, wherein the liquid inlet port and the air inlet port are located in an outer circumference of the substrate, and the adjustment ring is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the outer circumference of the substrate.
 3. The adjustment assembly according to claim 1, wherein a protruding stop plate is formed on the substrate, a limiting bulge is formed on the adjustment ring corresponding to the protruding stop plate, when the adjustment ring is rotated, the limiting bulge rotates between the opposite ends of the protruding stop plate.
 4. The adjustment assembly according to claim 1, wherein a close fitting member is disposed between the substrate and the adjustment ring.
 5. An atomizer, comprising: an atomizing assembly having an accommodation cavity and an air passage, and an adjustment assembly disposed on the atomizing assembly; wherein the adjustment assembly comprises a substrate and an adjustment member, the substrate defines a liquid inlet port in communication with the accommodation cavity and an air inlet port in communication with the air passage, the adjustment member is an adjustment ring rotatably sleeved on the substrate, the adjustment ring defines an adjustment window, when the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the liquid inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the air inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the liquid inlet port is configured for an injection of aerosol source material into the accommodation cavity; when the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the air inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the liquid inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the air inlet port is configured for air entering the air passage.
 6. The atomizer according to claim 5, wherein the liquid inlet port and the air inlet port are located in an outer circumference of the substrate, and the adjustment ring is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the outer circumference of the substrate.
 7. The atomizer according to claim 5, wherein a protruding stop plate is formed on the substrate, a limiting bulge is formed on the adjustment ring corresponding to the protruding stop plate, when the adjustment ring is rotated, the limiting bulge rotates between the opposite ends of the protruding stop plate.
 8. The atomizer according to claim 5, wherein a close fitting member is disposed between the substrate and the adjustment ring.
 9. The atomizer according to claim 5, wherein the atomizing assembly further comprises an accommodation tube, a connection tube and a base, one end of the accommodation tube is disposed on the base, and the other end of the accommodation tube abuts against the adjustment assembly, the connection tube is housed in the accommodation tube, a space among the accommodation tube, the connection tube, the base and the adjustment assembly forms the accommodation cavity.
 10. The atomizer according to claim 9, wherein the atomizing assembly further comprises an atomizing tube, the atomizing tube is housed in the connection tube, one end of the atomizing tube is located at the base, and the other end of the atomizing tube is disposed on the adjustment assembly, a space between the atomizing tube and the connection tube forms the air passage.
 11. The atomizer according to claim 10, wherein the atomizing tube comprises a tube body and a tube cover connecting with the tube body, an end of the tube body away from the tube cover is disposed on the base, an end of the tube cover away from the tube body is disposed on the adjustment assembly, a space between the tube body and the base forms an atomizing cavity, the tube cover defines an opening in communication with the air passage and the atomizing cavity.
 12. The atomizer according to claim 11, wherein a gap between the tube body and the base forms a liquid inlet hole, the liquid inlet hole is in communication with the accommodation cavity and the atomizing cavity.
 13. An electronic cigarette, comprising: an atomizer, comprising: an atomizing assembly having an accommodation cavity and an air passage, and an adjustment assembly disposed on the atomizing assembly; wherein the adjustment assembly comprises a substrate and an adjustment member, the substrate defines a liquid inlet port in communication with the accommodation cavity and an air inlet port in communication with the air passage, the adjustment member is an adjustment ring rotatably sleeved on the substrate, the adjustment ring defines an adjustment window, when the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the liquid inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the air inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the liquid inlet port is configured for an injection of aerosol source material into the accommodation cavity; when the adjustment window is at least partially overlapped with the air inlet port by rotating the adjustment ring, the liquid inlet port is covered by the adjustment ring, and the overlapped portion between the adjustment window and the air inlet port is configured for air entering the air passage.
 14. The electronic cigarette according to claim 13, wherein the liquid inlet port and the air inlet port are located in an outer circumference of the substrate, and the adjustment ring is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the outer circumference of the substrate.
 15. The electronic cigarette according to claim 13, wherein a protruding stop plate is formed on the substrate, a limiting bulge is formed on the adjustment ring corresponding to the protruding stop plate, when the adjustment ring is rotated, the limiting bulge rotates between the opposite ends of the protruding stop plate.
 16. The electronic cigarette according to claim 13, wherein a close fitting member is disposed between the substrate and the adjustment ring.
 17. The electronic cigarette according to claim 13, wherein the atomizing assembly further comprises an accommodation tube, a connection tube and a base, one end of the accommodation tube is disposed on the base, and the other end of the accommodation tube abuts against the adjustment assembly, the connection tube is housed in the accommodation tube, a space among the accommodation tube, the connection tube, the base and the adjustment assembly forms the accommodation cavity.
 18. The electronic cigarette according to claim 17, wherein the atomizing assembly further comprises an atomizing tube, the atomizing tube is housed in the connection tube, one end of the atomizing tube is located at the base, and the other end of the atomizing tube is disposed on the adjustment assembly, a space between the atomizing tube and the connection tube forms the air passage.
 19. The electronic cigarette according to claim 18, wherein the atomizing tube comprises a tube body and a tube cover connecting with the tube body, an end of the tube body away from the tube cover is disposed on the base, an end of the tube cover away from the tube body is disposed on the adjustment assembly, a space between the tube body and the base forms an atomizing cavity, the tube cover defines an opening in communication with the air passage and the atomizing cavity.
 20. The electronic cigarette according to claim 19, wherein a gap between the tube body and the base forms a liquid inlet hole, the liquid inlet hole is in communication with the accommodation cavity and the atomizing cavity. 